The Perfect Pet Treat

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August 26, 2015

Article Corine Green | Photography Provided

Looking for a healthy treat for your pet? This basic dog treat recipe can be used as a starting point, and customized based on your pet’s taste buds. Our dog Rocco loves carrots, kale and blueberries, so we packed them into these treats. You always want to limit the grains your pet eats, but for an occasional treat, these are better than store bought options. All ingredients listed are organic. Since we eat organic, we think Rocco should, too!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 c. brown rice flour

1/2 c. quick cook oats

2 small carrots, finely diced (about 1/3 c.)

2 small dinosaur kale leaves, finely diced (about 1/3 c.)

20 blueberries, finely diced

(a food processor works great to quickly dice the fruit and veggies)

2 tablespoons ground and/or whole flaxseed

6 tablespoons water

Parchment paper

Rolling pin

Cookie cutter

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F

1. In a small dish combine flaxseed (ground and/or whole) with water, stir and set aside for 10-15 minutes. This will be the binder for the treats.

2. Prepare remaining ingredients while the flax gels up.

3. In a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, oats, fruit and veggies. Check your flaxseed mixture and see if it has thickened and become slightly gelatinous, give it a stir and then add it to the bowl.

4. Stir well to combine using a spatula or your hands. If the mixture is too dry and not sticking together after thoroughly mixing, add more water 1-2 tsp. at a time. You don’t want it too sticky.

5. On a sheet of parchment paper (12″x12″ is a good size) dump out the dough. Flatten it with your hands, ensuring you keep the edges from cracking and separating as you go. Make it square or round, depending on the cookie cutter shape you are using. (square cutter = square rolled dough, etc)

6. Use a rolling pin to finish flattening the dough, until it’s about 1/4″ thick.

7. Use your favorite cookie cutter shape to make the treats. (I used a 3″x1″ rectangle and it yielded 16 treats.) Place each treat on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. They can be close together because they won’t rise or expand.

8. Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes or until thoroughly dried. (NOTE: For raw treats that are alive with healthy enzymes, which are good for digestion, you can also dehydrate these overnight at 115°F if you have a dehydrator.)